Florida authorities arrested 19 squatters last week after they allegedly vandalized a vacant motel, creating a “truly egregious scene” and causing $15,000 worth of damage.
The squatters were charged with breaking and entering at a former Budget Inn in Gainesville, where police had responded dozens of times in the past, WCJB reported.
“This time there were a lot of people there, a lot of damage to the facilities. They had broken into public services. There was a tremendous amount of drug and alcohol paraphernalia,” county spokesman Mark Sexton told the Gainesville Sun.
“What we found was a truly appalling scene.”
It took the local sheriff’s department three hours to clear 36 rooms, including some that were barricaded from the inside, the newspaper reported.
A minor was in a room without a legal guardian.
Last week, 19 squatters were arrested at two locations in Florida.WCJB The occupation took place at a closed Budget Inn. Emmanuel Pierre, 25 of WCJB, was charged with one of the alleged squatting incidents. Lee County Sheriff’s Office
The day before, Lee County Sheriff’s officials arrested another alleged squatter, Emmanuel Pierre, 25, after he allegedly broke into a home, WINK reported.
Pierre allegedly cooked in the kitchen, drove a car in the driveway and even set up a console to play video games in a bedroom, authorities said.
The homeowner reportedly returned to the home after receiving alerts that the temperature on his smart thermostat had changed.
The owner returned and saw his car being used by the alleged intruder. WINK
He called 911 when he saw the home had been broken into before finding the alleged squatter behind the wheel of his car, the station reported.
The owner kept Pierre from leaving until the sheriff’s office arrived.
Pierre was charged with robbery and car theft.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn